Warm Kale and Chicken Salad

Posted By
Savita

Pan-seared Chicken with kale and veggies simmered in chicken broth is one healthy bowl of salad that I can eat any time of the day. White meat chicken (chicken breast meat) cooks faster and is also lean source of protein. It is great for quick, lite, and healthy weeknight chicken dinner. Especially with delicious flavors of hearty and healthy kale, bell peppers, olives and salty feta cheese, this salad is my favorite for easy weeknight dinners.

Kale and chicken salad is so filling and satisfying, sometimes I think its wrong to call it salad. I wouldn't mind calling this salad a weeknight complete meal or Chicken and Kale quick stew.

Method of pounding the chicken makes it much tender. Not only does chicken cook faster, it absorbs flavor quickly too. It might feel like that pounding is extra work. Think about it. A big piece of chicken (not pounded) searing in skillet will burn the skillet before its cooked through or first we have to quick brown it from both sides then throw in oven for cooking through. Whereas, if you spend 5 minutes to pound the chicken, then it will cook in skillet (no oven required) in just 10 minutes (5 min each side) and will have nice golden brown color. I prefer to invest time in pounding the chicken, when I know, I need to put food on dinner table in 25 minutes. Don't just believe me, try it yourself. I am sure you will be glad to cook chicken this way. Since I tasted Kale, it is my favorite green leafy vegetable on this earth. I am fond of mustard greens and spinach too, but kale has surpassed both in taste, flavor and health benefits. Do you know kale has more calcium than milk with added benefits of green vegetable? Kale is like new era's "turmeric". Raw kale has zero calories from sugar!! Cooked not have much either. If you never had kale, do add it in your daily diet for nutrition and of-course for taste.

Warm kale cooked in chicken broth really takes taste of kale to whole new level. Almost slow cooked stewed collard greens. With briny olives, feta and beautifully cooked piece of chicken, this salad screams healthy dinner to me. I enjoyed it a lot. Let me know how it worked for you?

Directions

1.
Cook Chicken - Place bone-less chicken fillets in between two plastic wraps and pound it with skillet to flatten it. Chicken should be about 1/2 inch thick. Heat oil in a skillet. Season chicken with salt and black pepper and sear it 4-5 minutes each side or until golden brown on both sides. Transfer chicken to a plate.

Additional Notes

Chicken will start to brown at edges as it will be ready to flip.

2.
Remove any oil left in the pan. Add fresh 1 tbsp oil and let it heat up. Now add onion and kale leaves. Saute till kale has wilted and onion are soft and have brown spots.(about 1-2 minutes) Season with slat and pepper and continue cooking for 2 more minutes. Now add garlic, oregano, bell pepper and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.

3.
Add chicken in the pan with olives (if using) and chicken stock. Bring to gentle simmer and then cover. Simmer for 5 more minutes or until chicken is all cooked through and vegetables are tender. Top with cilantro, feta and serve warm.